Rivers commissioner resigns 24 hours after sack of colleague

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Austin Tam-George, has resigned from Governor Nyesom Wike’s government.

His resignation came barely 24 hours after Wike relieved the Commissioner of Works, Bathuel Harrison, of his appointment.

George, who assumed office on December 9, 2015, in a letter dated June 23, this year and directed to Wike, announced that he was leaving the state executive council.

The letter read in part: “I wish to resign my appointment as commissioner for Information and Communication with effect from today, June 23, 2017.

“I have handed over officially to the Director of Administration of the ministry. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the state.”

Though George did not specify the reason for his resignation, The Guardian gathered that the governor was planning to overhaul his cabinet ahead of the 2019 general elections and the commissioner might have been affected.

It is not clear if Wike asked George, who hails from Okrika Council and is not a politician, to resign or not.

But sources said the governor was due to overhaul his cabinet and bring on board persons who could aid his second term bid.